Proven Strategies

Orange kitten and tabby kitten lying in purple and white cat bed

Program Spotlights

The following program spotlights feature Network partner organizations demonstrating how they have put collaborative and effective programming in place that has helped increase lifesaving. Each spotlight includes specific examples and takeaways that you can learn from and implement at your organization. By sharing experiences and learning from each other, we can collectively save more lives. 

In addition to the program spotlights below, check out our editorials.


2023 Program Spotlights


Should you or shouldn’t you change your adoption fees? 
By: Liz Finch September 6, 2023 

Cats Rule: Short ‘n’ sweet videos tap into all things cat to support keeping felines with their families  
By: Liz Finch  August 30, 2023  

Are you doing everything you possibly can to find positive outcomes for large dogs?   
By: Liz Finch  August 23, 2023  

Kick your old kennel cards to the curb in favor of more effective designs    
By: Liz Finch  August 16, 2023   

Expand your organizational reach through the power of volunteers    
By: Liz Finch  August 2, 2023

GIS mapping enlists technology in the quest to reunite lost pets with their people    
By: Liz Finch  July 26,2023

Participants in July’s National Adoption Weekend share some of their happiest tales    
By: Liz Finch  July 19, 2023

2020-2022 data trends Q&A    
By: Liz Finch  July 12, 2023

New videos increase access to dog handling training by Best Friends experts    
By: Liz Finch  June 28, 2023

Found a free-roaming friendly cat? Put them back.    
By: Liz Finch  June 21, 2023

“Ready or Not, here it Comes"    
By: Sharon Hawa  June 7, 2023

Legislation is poised to end BSL in Florida     
By: Liz Finch  May 31, 2023

A roundup of resources advocating for fee-waived or reduced-cost adoptions     
By: Liz Finch  May 23, 2023

Getting a handle on viral outbreaks in your dog populations    
By: Liz Finch  May 16, 2023

Media strategy a critical part of response to disease outbreaks    
By: Liz Finch  May 9, 2023

Tackle kitten season head-on by putting a solid foster program in place      
By: Liz Finch  May 2, 2023 

Countdown to the 2023 Best Friends National Conference begins!      
By: Liz Finch  April 25, 2023      
      
Taking action for animals       
By: Liz Finch  April 18, 2023      

Acknowledging dispatch staff in honor of ACO Appreciation Week        
By: Liz Finch  April 4, 2023

ASV releases updated Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters             
By: Liz Finch  March 21, 2023

Putting the FUN back in fundraising              
By: Liz Finch  March 14, 2023          

Are big events worth the bother?              
By: Liz Finch  February 28, 2023

Maximizing your network partnership through our web resources, tools              
By: Liz Finch  February 21, 2023           

Don’t worry, be happy: Opting for the upbeat in your messaging              
By: Liz Finch  February 14, 2023

Building a better board of directors              
By: Liz Finch  January 17, 2023

Photo pros share tricks of the trade              
By: Liz Finch  January 10, 2023

Network partners wrap up 2022 by finding homes for 10,000-plus  animals during the 3-day holiday event              
By: Liz Finch  January 3, 2023


2022 Program Spotlights


Municipal shelters share strategies for increased adoptions in 2022              
By: Liz Finch  December 13, 2022

The trick to attracting media attention              
By: Liz Finch  December 6, 2022

Making more vets              
By: Liz Finch  November 29, 2022

10 tales from 2022              
By: Liz Finch  November 22, 2022

Is your messaging successfully communicating your organization’s DEI focus?              
By: Liz Finch  November 1, 2022

Experts weigh in on how to plan for the best adoption event ever              
By: Liz Finch  October 25, 2022

Reaching for radical transformation with Steven Martinez of York County SPCA              
By: Liz Finch  October 20, 2022

Best Friends, network partners team up to deliver most successful adoption weekend yet              
By: Liz Finch  October 12, 2022

From surviving to thriving: an interview with José Ocaño              
By: Liz Finch  October 4, 2022

When rescuers need rescuing: managing our mental health              
By: Liz Finch  September 26, 2022

Reconsidering your mission (Part III)              
By: Liz Finch  September 13, 2022

Reconsidering your mission (Part II)              
By: Liz Finch  September 6, 2022

Reconsidering your mission (Part I)               
By: Liz Finch  August 30, 2022

Making the jump from private practice to shelter medicine              
By: Liz Finch  August 23, 2022

Going digital to seek out donors: 7 ways to prepare for adding the latest technology to your fundraising tools              
By: Liz Finch  August 16, 2022

Second National Adoption Weekend results in nearly 10,000 animals finding new homes              
By: Liz Finch  August 9, 2022 

Setting the stage for strategic intake              
By: Liz Finch  August 3, 2022 

Best Friends National Adoption Weekend – Take Two!              
By: Liz Finch  June 28, 2022

Volunteers prove they can do more than just walk dogs or play with cats              
By: Liz Finch  June 14, 2022

Tricks of the trade- Best Friends cat expert shares neonatal care tips for foster              
By: Liz Finch  May 31, 2022 

Getting past “the ringworm stigma”              
By: Liz Finch  May 24, 2022

Making the leap: How to feel more at ease with reduced-price or fee-waived adoptions               
By: Liz Finch  May 10, 2022

Five types of tech to streamline your lifesaving work              
May 3, 2022

We're back baby!!              
April 26, 2022

We’re all in this together: Working with, not against, unions              
By: Liz Finch  April 19, 2022

Where, oh where has my little dog gone?              
By: Liz Finch  April 5, 2022

More tips on getting your shelter’s SOPs in shape              
By: Liz Finch  March 22, 2022

Best Friends experts share more tips on preparing for kitten season              
March 1, 2022

Kitten programs 2.0 part 2: Bringing up (a neonatal) baby              
By Liz Finch  February 8,2022

Kitten programs 2.0 part 1: Re-examining medical protocols for neonates              
By: Liz Finch  February 1, 2022

NACA comes out in support of appointment-based intake              
By: Liz Finch  January 25, 2022

Spokane agencies collaborate to bridge gap between human/animal services              
By: Liz Finch  January 4, 2022


2021 Program Spotlights


Encore! Encore!              
December 21, 2021

Got behavior-challenged dogs?              
December 6, 2021

Happy Tales for Thanksgiving              
By: Liz Finch  November 23, 2021

Teaming Up to Build Better Animal Ordinances               
By: Liz Finch  November 8, 2021

Unique Partnerships Add New Dimension to Helping Animals               
By: Liz Finch  November 2, 2021

How to Build a Strong Partnership              
By: Liz Finch  October 26, 2021

Research Underscores Need to Use Broadly Understood Language              
By: Liz Finch  October 19th, 2021

Harnessing the Power of Story to Benefit your Bottom Line              
By: Liz Finch  October 12, 2021

One Tail at a Time Stretches Role of Rescue with Creative Programming              
By: Liz Finch  August 30, 2021

Getting the Message Out              
By: Liz Finch  August 13, 2021

Building Bridges on the Navajo Nation              
By: Liz Finch  July 30, 2021

Need Data to Support Community Cat Programs?               
By: Liz Finch  July 23, 2021

Making the Case for Keeping Adjusted Shelter Practices Post-Pandemic               
By: Liz Finch  July 16, 2021

No-Kill Doesn't Mean No Challenges              
By: Audrey Lodato  June 30, 2021

Ten Ways to Get the Public Re-Engaged with Your Shelter Post-COVID              
By: Liz Finch  June 11, 2021

First-Ever Virtual National BF Conference Promises Something for Everyone              
By: Marc Peralta  June 4th, 2021 

Kitten Kits Help the Public Participate in Lifesaving              
By: Liz Finch  May 21, 2021 

Finding Pathways to Success for Rural Shelters                
By: Liz Finch  May 14, 2021

Keeping Pets with their Families              
By: Laura Donahue  May 4, 2021

Appreciating Volunteers Goes Beyond Just Saying “Thank You”               
By: Liz Finch  April 22, 2021

Ushering in a Change to How We Help Shelters Increase Lifesaving for Cats              
By: Liz Finch  April 15, 2021

Take a Gander at These Partner Perks!              
By: Liz Finch  April 8, 2021

Community Cat Programs: Looking Back on Past Successes, Charting a New Future                  
By: Liz Finch  April 1, 2021

Rescue Roadblock Pledge Participants Share Their Successes               
By: Bethany Heins  March 23, 2021

Latest Data Analysis Reveals Most Common Reasons for Owner Surrender              
By: Vicki Kilmer  March 12, 2021

Inclusive External Communications Council Digs into Ways to Reach, Reflect Diverse Audiences              
By: Amy Davila Sanchez  March 5, 2021

Reaching Across State Lines to Bring Shelter Animals in Out of the Cold              
By: Bethany Heins  February 25, 2021 

People Experience Council Shares First Steps in DEI Work              
By: Dawn Binion-Stewart  February 17, 2021

New Report Shows How Social Vulnerability Affects Lifesaving               
By: Bethany Heins  February 5, 2021

Let’s Talk About Managed Intake               
By: Makena Yarbrough  January 28, 2021

The Best Friends National Conference is Back!              
By: Rachel Hyde  January 21, 2021

Up for a Challenge?              
By: Bethany Heins  January 11, 2021


2020 Program Spotlights


Looking Back on a Tumultuous Year                
By: Brent Toellner  December 11, 2020

End-of-Year Fundraising Tips                
By: Liz Finch  December 3, 2020

Field Services: Identifying Data Worth Collecting              
By: Scott Giacoppo  November 17, 2020

Putting Data into Action with Field Services Staff                
By: Scott Giacoppo  November 9, 2020 

The Dilemma of the Friendly Outdoor Cat               
By: Michelle Logan  October 28, 2020

Leading with Gratitude              
By: Patricia Tolbert  October 20, 2020

Shelters Closing Access to Care Gap for At-Risk Communities              
By: Aimee St. Arnaud  October 5, 2020

Aiming to Bring the Animal Welfare Profession Out of the Shadows               
By: Tawny Hammond  September 28, 2020

Best Friends Moves to Incorporate Diversity, Equity and Inclusion into Our Mission              
By: José Ocaño  September 14, 2020

Austin collaboration delivers big wins for cats              
By: Lee Ann Shenefiel  August 31, 2020

Removing Rescue Roadblocks              
By: Liz Finch  August 21, 2020

Reflecting on Rescue Roadblocks              
By: Liz Finch  August 14, 2020

Charting Progress and Challenges in the Fight Against Breed Discrimination              
By: Lee Greenwood  July 17, 2020

Virtual Fundraising Efforts Prove Successful for Network Partners              
By: Liz Finch  June 30, 2020

2019 Shelter Dataset Shows Steady Progress to No-Kill 2025              
By: Elizabeth Bennett  June 26, 2020

What’s Next: Reducing Racism in Animal Welfare              
By: Liz Finch  June 23, 2020

Best Friends Staff Open Up about Their Experiences with Racism in Animal Welfare              
By: Liz Finch  June 16, 2020

Shelters, Clinics Receive Spay/Neuter Stimulus Funding               
By: Aimee St. Arnaud  June 5, 2020

Transports Drive Lifesaving for Rural Shelters              
By: Carrie Ducote  May 29, 2020

How to Keep New Fosters Engaged Post-Pandemic              
By: Makena Yarbrough  May 22, 2020

Shelters Use Technology to Overcome COVID Challenges              
By: Sue Cosby  May 19, 2020

Data Proves Power of Managing Intake              
By: Brent Toellner  May 15, 2020

ACOs Lead Change for Shelters              
By: Scott Giacoppo  May 8, 2020

Pilot Community Cat Program Leads to Lifesaving Legal Changes in Harris County              
By: Bethany Heins  April 24, 2020

Data about Shelter Trends Provide a Blueprint for Animal Services moving forward              
By: Brent Toellner  April 20, 2020

Community Powered Lifesaving              
By: Andie Peart  April 10, 2020

Helping the Public Plan for their Pets’ Care During Crisis              
By: Stacy Rogers  April 7, 2020

Staying Nimble and Solvent through the Pandemic              
By: Makena Yarbrough  April 3, 2020

Onset of Kitten Season Combined with Shelter Limitations Leads to Creative Solutions              
By: Liz Finch March 27, 2020

COVID-19 Resource Page Gives a Glimpse into the Future of Sheltering              
By: Brent Toellner March 24, 2020


Be sure to check out our editorials, published research, and The Best Friends Podcast for more lifesaving information.